Physical or digital good

Question

Created May ’16

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Hi,

We have an app that based on a mole image can give you mole analysis in depth. We wanted to add new service inside the app which users could buy as part of the in-app purchase. But our app was rejected per rule IAP 11.3.

We don't sell any kind of physical goods. We just want to give users an option to ask a doctor about moles they scanned with our app.

Is it possible to do that through in-app purchase if we ask users first to buy credits which they will use to pay this service we want to offer them? It is similar like you want to buy credit to unlock a new level in the game or to add some supplies in a game. This will be consumable purchases that must be purchased each time the user needs doctor's opinion.

Thanks in advance

Ceca

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Answer 1

sambegic OP

May ’16

Hi there,

I have similar question( sorry, not trying to hijack original question) and basically we don't want to use in-app purchase but some feedbacks from different forum suggest that we have to. Basically we connect buyers and sellers and allow video call through the app( like consultation service).

In original question, they want to use in-app purchase but Apple is rejecting even though they not selling any physical goods. Why?

Another example: Fiverr app. Large percentage of gigs deliver digital goods but for some reason Fiverr is exempted of having to use in-app purchase and they can use own payment system. For example, i can order video of some place that buyer will record on his iPhone , upload through Fiverr app and then i can watch that video right in the app. That is obviously digital good.

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Answer 2

KMT OP

May ’16

My guess is Apple doesn't want to be responsible for the quality of someone's work outside the app.

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Answer 3

PBK OP

May ’16

Let me respond to this question first - the picture that is being sent to the doctor. The sending of the picture itself may be suitable for IAP. However, the real world service of the doctor reviewing the picture is being done outside of the app and under 11.3 you can't use IAP:

11.3 Apps using IAP to purchase physical goods or goods and services used outside of the App will be rejected

Consider the MRI procedure and the radiologist read of the resulting scan. Billing is done separately. Apple is not a player in the doctor's read.

Now, it gets a bit messy if the doctor is reading the image using the app in some way. Certainly if Artiifcial Intelligence within the app is used as part of and during that reading process it is now 'in the app' and 11.3 would not apply. So you could certainly appeal if the image was presented to the doctor by the app itself and if the image was enhanced in any way as it was being presented to the doctor. You will also want to 'use the service' within the app - that is the feedback to the patient will have to go through the app not directly from the doctor to the user/patient.

All, IMHO.

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Answer 4

PBK OP

May ’16

1) ignore all other apps that might have 'gotten away with it'. If you want, try to get away with it yourself. But pointing out that your older brother got to do something is only going to get your older brother in trouble.

2) "Basically we connect buyers and sellers and allow video call through the app( like consultation service)" - the component that is facilitated within the app, i.e. the connection between a buyer and a seller as determined by some database or whatever within the app is subject to the 11.2 requirement that you use IAP. But the video call with a real world person would allow you to use 11.3 to avoid IAP if it were not in the app. But then you do it within the app. So you can divide up your 'value/price' into three components - connect a buyer to a seller, present the buyer for a conversation with the expert seller, the actual video link. The first is IAP, the second is not to the extent that you are paying for the services of the expert buyer, the third may or may not be. I recall intense discussions on whether VOIP minutes had to be paid by IAP or couldn't be paid by IAP - I believe it was decided that it could go either way but I am not sure on that. So, IMHO, bottom line is if you are actually paying most of the fee for a consultant expert buyer you cannot use IAP but if you are not paying for the consultant expert buyer then you are just selling stuff facilitated by the App and have to use IAP. I would chose what you want to have happen, use the content within this #2 to justify it and proceed under #1 above.

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